I am getting a shapeoko 5 pro soon and would like to know if there is an output signal from the controller that would allow me to turn on the dust extraction system when a project is started in Carbide motion and turn it off when the project is complete.
We recommend using a 3rd party accessory to trigger the vacuum on a delay:
https://carbide3d.com/hub/faq/controlling-a-vacuum-with-your-shapeoko/
I use a voice command on Google Home that runs a Feit switch. That way I can run my vacuum on a different circuit.
So you plug the VFD into the into the vacuum switching device? The VFD is on all the time, so is the difference between the current drawn while running the spindle and not sufficient to trigger the vacuum?
I’m not having much success finding a device that will switch a 120V outlet for a vacuum based on a 240V load. Plenty of devices that work the other way around, eg turning on your 240V dust collector based on a 120V tool being operated.
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Thank you for your advice. I will get onto it!
Hello Paul,
I just added, Automatic Vacuum Switch with Extra Outlet for Using More Power Tools, Ortis Dust Control Autoswitch Delay Vacuum On/Off to Prevent Circuit Overload and Tripping, Adjustable Actuation Threshold, Black
Visit the Ortis Store from Amazon a few weeks back and Love it. $37.00 and dust turns on and off when you start and stop the spindle. I couldn’t be more pleased. Plug the unit to the outlet, shopvac and cyclone , and router to the unit and done. Good luck to you.
Hi Roger, Can you send me a link for a device that turns on a 240v dust collector based on a 120v (spindle) tool being operated. I am in Australia and that’s exactly what I need. We have a standard 240v system, I will be running the VSD from a 240v / 120v transformer. Rockstone Power 2000 Watt Heavy Duty Step Up/Down Voltage Transformer Converter - Step Up/Down 110/120/220/240 Volt - 5V USB Port - CE Certified [3-Year Warranty] : Amazon.com.au: Electronics
Best experience with iVac Pro Switch, they are available for 240V, check on Amazon.
That item
is the one where the vacuum is connected, it can be plugged in to a separate circuit.
As you can see there is a switch where it can be switched manually.
Where that thing comes really handy is the Ivac Pro Tool Plus:
It is clamped at the cord that connects the router or the spindle. While a router pulls enough power to trigger a master-slave-switch, that is not reliably the case for a spindle controller, because there is no “zero” state for the controller. AND!: these master-slave-switches pull the energy for the router AND the vacuum from one circuit. That overwhelms the breaker for many shop set ups. The Ivac Pro Tool Plus thing connects wirelessly to the switch, there can be a decent distance. The item needs USB power outlet.
That set up works for me smoothly always. It is a “clean” solution, means there is a single power supply for every tool, such a vacuum needs more power than one would think. The vacuum even is switched on few seconds after the main power allowing the initial power spike to be distributed, and also runs the vacuum some seconds longer than the spindle.
And: there also is a remote control, also wirelessly. Ivac Pro Remote:
The items have micro switch arrays where the channels can be determined, so that several of these combinations can run parallely, for larger shops, they have remotely controlled blast gates, even a G-code controllable remote control etc, for all sizes of shops per their website.
I heartily can recommend that combination. GL!
ivac seem s to be a popular brand here: iVAC Pro Switch, 240Vac, 20A – shop.ivacswitch.com There was actually a post in the Festool group from someone in Oz saying they’d used this setup successfully.
I don’t know whether these will work when what is plugged in is a VFD rather than an electric motor directly. I suspect they sense the inrush current of the motor starting, which is very much smaller when you interpose a VFD. I’ve written them to ask this question but haven’t heard back yet.
I used the Ivac before I got the BitRunner (chichi don’t really need anymore since ai got a spindle).
The Ivac worked great. You can adjust the sensitivity on the power line sensor so I would expect it could be tuned to detect when enough juice is being sent to trigger the spindle.
I am not using mine now as the VFD I have is hooked directly to an IoT powerstrip.
I can test out the Ivac sensor on the spindle if you like but I am out of town for a week so it will be a bit before I can try it.
As I am going to supply the VFD via a 240v to 110v transformer I may be able to put the sensor on the transformer input lead and detect the change in current there.
I have an iVac remote mounted on the wall by the cnc computer, I just push the button after a bit change, start of job, and such to fire up the dust collector (240v). easy and simple.
I have 3 iVac remotes on the same channel around the shop so can turn it on/off from anywhere.
I have the spindle plugged into a control outlet that also has the dust extraction plugged into and when the spindle turns on - it turns on the dust extrraction, works like a champ and cost 30$ on amazon
MIke
I had a plug control that did that but I disconnected it. I wouldn’t recommend doing that just because I often like to pause the spindle and use the hose to suck up chips to clear the work surface. I just added a light switch on the front of the table to turn the vacuum plug on and off.